All of the most powerful navies in the world maintain their superiority using aircraft carriers. These rare beasts are extremely expensive and not every country with a fleet is able to afford them. They can cost several billion dollars each, but the value they provide is immense--with them, a navy is able to project power far beyond a country's borders.

Any major conflict between the world's superpowers is certain to involve these magnificient machines. They really are fascinating pieces of engineering. Just how fascinating? Without further ado, here are 5 things you never knew about aircraft carriers.

-Picture courtesy Reuters-

Amazing Aircraft Carrier Facts

Take Off

Since it's impossible to take off on the short runway of an aircraft carrier conventionally, four catapults are used to give planes an extra boost. These catapults have two pistons that sit inside parallel cylinders that are positioned under the deck. These pistons are roughly 100 yards in length!

Taking off from an aircraft carrier, pilots say, is like getting a punch in the face. The combination of the catapaults and the plane's afterburners get it to go from 0 to almost 300 km/h in 2 seconds!

-Picture courtesy Reuters-

Amazing Aircraft Carrier Facts

Landing

Even on the largest carriers, planes only have a 500-foot runway to work with. A pilot needs to snag his plane's tailhook to one of the four arresting wires that are made from high tensile steel. These wires can stop a 54,000-pound aircraft going at 240 km/h in two seconds, within 315 feet!

Landing on a carrier in perfect conditions is difficult enough; ask pilots, however, and they'll tell you that landing on a carrier deck at night, in rough seas--with the deck pitching and rolling all over the place--is the scariest experience they've ever had.

-Picture courtesy Reuters-

Amazing Aircraft Carrier Facts

Decks and Crew

These huge machines have up toseven decks stacked under the flight deck and a massive superstructure. to boot. This is required to house a crew of around 5000 technicians, pilots and sailors.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt, whose displacement is a whopping 104,600tons, is the biggest aircraft carrier in service. This Nimitz class vessel is 1,092 feet long and it can carry 90 fixed-winged aircraft and helicopters.

It has been on active duty for the US Navy since the late 1980s and is likely to go on for several years to come. Aircraft carriers aren't just junked at the end of their service--they're generally subjected to extensive refits and overhauls and either pressed back to work or sold off to other friendly nations.

-Picture courtesy Reuters-

Amazing Aircraft Carrier Facts

Indian Giant

India is one of nine countries that have aircraft carriers in active service. The INS Viraat is 226.5 metres long and can carry upto 30 aircraft while coasting at speeds of 28 knots. It was acquired by the Indian navy in 1987. The Viraat gives India a huge advantage over Pakistan's navy, as it can launch aircraft deep into Pakistani territory if needed.

Soon the Indian Navy will be armed with the Russian-made INS Vikramaditya and locally-manufactured Vikrant-class aircraft carriers as well.

Amazing Aircraft Carrier Facts

All of the most powerful navies in the world maintain their superiority using aircraft carriers. These rare beasts are extremely expensive and not every country with a fleet is able to afford them. They can cost several billion dollars each, but the value they provide is immense--with them, a navy is able to project power far beyond a country\'s borders.

Any major conflict between the world\'s superpowers is certain to involve these magnificient machines. They really are fascinating pieces of engineering. Just how fascinating? Without further ado, here are 5 things you never knew about aircraft carriers.